Australian woman critically ill after first day of dream trip
A dream European holiday has turned into a nightmare for a Queensland woman who is now fighting for her life in an Italian hospital.
Sunshine Coast woman Bianca “Biddy” Zonneveld and her friend Karlea Louise arrived in the Italian city of Milan on Thursday at the beginning of a two-month trip around Europe.
A day later she was critically ill, and lucky to survive her first night in hospital.
Ms Louise, on a GoFundMe page, described the tragic scene of seeing her friend Biddy on Saturday “unresponsive” in the intensive care unit of San Raffaelle Hospital in Milan.
“The most terrifying reality is we almost lost her on arrival at the hospital,” Ms Louise wrote.
The pair, who had been working together in Brunswick Heads in northern NSW, had arrived in Milan after a gruelling 56-hour flight.
“Only took two days to get here,” Ms Zonneveld wrote on Facebook on their arrival in Milan.
“Got stuck in China airport for 26+hours, missed 2 flights …Finally in Italy with wine cheese olives and swollen ankles.”
Ms Louise said her friend’s case was “extremely complex and unfortunate”, explaining she has type 1 diabetes and been on medication for the past 12 months.
She said her friend became ill after feeling exhausted, dehydrated and unable to eat, but was still taking her medication though.
Ms Zonneveld began to suffer from metabolic acidosis, which is a condition where the body produces excessive quantities of acid. It can cause people to go into a coma or death.
“This was extremely dangerous and almost fatal for her, especially as a diabetic. Bianca’s blood was so toxic that her kidneys could not filter the blood anymore so she has been on dialysis,” Ms Louise wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“Bianca also suffered from respiratory failure due to an unidentified in her lungs. She is also suffering from pneumonia.”
Ms Zonneveld has been in a coma for about five days.
Her mum, Monique, wrote on Facebook on Monday that it’s “hard seeing her dependent on life machines” and just wants her home. She’s currently by her side in Milan.
“Biddy is always fine in her mumma’s arms but this time it’s just not working,” she wrote.
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Ms Louise claims her friend’s mum also suffers from health problems and her family is in “no financial situation to fly over to Italy or to be staying long term while Bianca heals”.
The family hopes to raise money to not only keep Ms Zonneveld alive but to also bring her home.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is providing consular assistance to an Australian woman in hospital in Italy and her family.
